Sewing machine attachment to carrying case base

ABSTRACT

A carrying case base is provided with two openings in the rear wall through which extend a pair of inserts fitted into the sewing machine hinge holes. A latch rotatable on the front side of a top surface of the base may be rotated over the sewing machine bed to retain the sewing machine, when used in conjunction with the inserts, in the carrying case base.

United States Patent Saintier Dec. 23, 1975 SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT TO 3,863,582 2/1975 Patricia 112/258 CARRYING CASE BASE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [75] Inventor: Franc-0E Rene sainfie" 1 100 536 4/1955 France 112/258 Bonnieres-sur-Seine, France 7 [73] Assignee: The Singer Company, New York, Primary Examiner-George H. Krizmanich N.Y. Attorney, Agent, or FirmM. J. Breen; E. L. Bell; R. 22 Filed: Mar. 10, 1975 [21] Appl. No.: 557,150 [57] ABSTRACT A carrying case base is provided with two openings in 5% 8'; b d g the rear wall through which extend a pair of inserts fitd 260 2 7 ted into the sewing machine hinge holes. A latch rotat- 1 le 0 arc l able on the front side of a top surface of the base may be rotated over the sewing machine bed to retain the [56] References C'ted sewing machine, when used in conjunction with the UNITED STATES PATENTS inserts, in the carrying case base.

683,499 10/1901 Richards ll2/2l7.1 2,464,838 3/1949 Adler 112/260 2 5 D'awmg Flgures U.S. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 3,927,630

A'III/I/IIIII/I Fug. 4

SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT TO CARRYING CASE BASE BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The invention is in the area of carrying cases for sewing machines. More specifically, the invention is concerned with the manner in which the sewing machine is retained in the carrying case base.

In the prior art U.S. Pat. No. 2,809,874 is disclosed a sewing machine carrying case base having a pair of hinges attached which were affixed to the sewing machine hinge holes in the rear of the work-supporting bed. A latch on the forward part of the sewing machine bed is rotatable to retain the sewing machine in the bed or allow it to be pivoted on the hinges.

The above construction proved to be expensive and, as indicated in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,162,406, later carrying case bases were affixed to the sewing machine by a screw. 3

A later attempt to circumvent the difficulties in installing and removing the carrying case base and the expense of the base resulted in the invention disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,253,873, wherein a cover only is required which supports the sewing machine by means of protrusions on the cover which extend into cavities in the sewing machine. This manner of supporting the sewing machine required an unusually sturdy and rigid carrying case cover.

Besides supplying aesthetic properties to a sewing machine, a carrying case base has been found to have a usefully deterrent effect on machine noise as disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,630,159.

It is evident what is desired is an economical sewing machine carrying case having a base, from which the sewing machine is readily separable, and a carrying case cover of normal construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above desired ends have been achieved in a carrying case by providing inserts fixable in the sewing machine hinge holes, which inserts may be inserted into openings provided therefor in the rear wall of a carrying case base whereupon the sewing machine may be rotated down into the base, and a latch mounted on the top surface of the base may be turned to engage the top of the work-supporting bed of the sewing machine to securely retain the sewing machine into the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in plan of the sewing machine inserted and retained in a carrying case base by means of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the sewing machine and carrying case base taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the sewing machine showing the latching device;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the carrying case base showing the insertion of a sewing machine carrying the inserts of the invention; and,

FIG. 5 is an isometric projection of the insert.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a sewing machine supported in a carrying case base 30. The sewing machine has a bracket arm 12 overhanging a bed 14.

The bed 14 is formed with a work-supporting surface 15 beneath the back edge 16 of which is located a pair of hinge bosses 17 having hingeholes 18 transversely of the back edge and parallel to the work-supporting surface. A screw 19 is directed into the hinge holes 18 and is used, as is common, to retain the sewing machine on a hinge fastened to a sewing machine cabinet of the drop head variety.

Clearly visible in FIG. 2 is an insert 20, retained in the hinge hole 18 by the screw 19. The insert 20 is preferably molded of a plastic material with an inset 21 for the screw 19 to bear against, and a collar 22 controlling the depth of insertion of the insert into the hinge hole 18. Outwardly of the collar 22, the insert 20 has an extension 23 with a tapered end 24 whose purpose will be explained below. The extension 23 is formed with a top platform 25 and an upright support 26, forming a T.

Also clearly visible in FIGS. 2 and 3, the carrying case base is formed with a top surface 31, ribs 32 for supporting the work-supporting surface 15 and a cavity 33 for receiving the bed 14. The ribs 32 is of a height sufficient to maintain the work-supporting surface 15 on a level with or slightly higher than the top surface 31 of the carrying case base 30. The cavity 33 is formed by a bottom wall 34, front wall 35, end walls 36 and rear wall 37. A pair of apertures 38 in the rear wall 37 immediately below and opening into the bottom wall portion of the top surface 31 are located to coincide with an extension'to the hinge holes 18 in the hinge bosses 17 On the top surface 31 of the base 30 opposite that in which the apertures 38 are located, a latch is supported for rotation on the rivet 41. The latch 40 is aligned with the top surface 31 to permit the sewing machine 10 to pass. In FIG. 3 the latch 40 is rotated about the rivet 41 to engage the work-supporting surface 15 of the bed 14, thereby to retain the sewing machine.

Evident in FIG. 4, the tapered end 24 of the extension 23 of the insert 20 presents an edge to the apertures 38 which facilitates entry of the inserts into the apertures. After entry is achieved, the sewing machine 10 may be rotated to seat on the ribs 32 of the base 30, whereupon the latch 40 may be rotated to the position shown in FIG. 3. The platform 25 of the extension 23 to the insert 20 bears against the underside 39 of the top surface 31 of the base 30 to retain the rear surface of the sewing machine in the carrying case base 30, and the latch 40 rotated over the front of the carrying case prevents removal of the sewing machine.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a sewing machine having a bed with a work supporting surface, said bed having at least one hinge hole; and a base receiving said bed, said base having a top surface substantially on a level with said sewing machine work-supporting surface; and means retaining said sewing machine to said base, said retaining means comprising:

a. At least one substantially rigid insert fixablc in said at least one hinge hole and extending therefrom;

b. At least one aperture in said base opposite to and substantially aligned with said at least one hinge hole, said aperture receiving said insert; and

c. A latch means disposed substantially diametrically opposite said at least one aperture for retaining,

4 ing from said sewing machine being formed on said extending part with a collar to control the depth of insertion into said hinge hole, and an insert extension emanating from said collar, said insert extension projecting through said at least one aperture and extending beneath said top surface of said base. 

1. In combination, a sewing machine having a bed with a work supporting surface, said bed having at least one hinge hole; and a base receiving said bed, said base having a top surface substantially on a level with said sewing machine work-supporting surface; and means retaining said sewing machine to said base, said retaining means comprising: a. At least one substantially rigid insert fixable in said at least one hinge hole and extending therefrom; b. At least one aperture in said base opposite to and substantially aligned with said at least one hinge hole, said aperture receiving said insert; and c. A latch means disposed substantially diametrically opposite said at least one aperture for retaining, with said insert in said aperture, said sewing machine work-supporting bed to said base.
 2. In a combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one hinge hole is located adjacent said sewing machine work-supporting surface; and said at least one aperture in said base is located adjacent said top surface of said base; said at least one insert extending from said sewing machine being formed on said extending part with a collar to control the depth of insertion into said hinge hole, and an insert extension emanating from said collar, said insert extension projecting through said at least one aperture and extending beneath said top surface of said base. 